A WOMAN whose life was saved by two liver transplants has backed a campaign to increase the number of people on the donor register.

Cat Reid, 29, received her first transplant aged 18 and her second transplant at 21 after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis aged just two.

The former carer has spoken of her gratitude to both her donors, and their families, for saving her life as she encouraged people to consider joining the NHS Organ Donor Register and share their decision.

Statistics show that there are currently 4,345 people in Scotland who are alive following a transplant, and 58 people waiting for an organ. Figures also show that 45 per cent of people in Scotland are registered organ donors.

Ms Reid, who lives with her partner Campbell in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, was first listed for transplant aged 17 after a massive bleed in her gullet caused the teenager's health to seriously decline. She then contracted a life-threatening lung infection but recovered and finally a suitable liver was found and the transplant went ahead.

However, her liver condition was so aggressive that it attacked her new liver, resulting in rejection and Ms Reid was placed back on the transplant waiting list in January 2009, by which time she was barely able to walk and heavily jaundiced. Her second transplant went ahead in November 2009 but she faced a long period of recovery after complications with the surgery.

Ms Reid said: “Growing up I always knew I’d need a transplant, but it wasn’t really spoken about. I suppose I didn’t want to face it, but I was so ill that eventually I just wanted my liver out of me and to feel better. I was badly jaundiced, had no energy and no quality of life.

“After my first transplant I remember waking up and my eyes were white, I had rosy cheeks and I was back on my feet really quickly. I told nurses that it felt like someone had gone in with a pot scourer and cleaned out my insides. It was amazing.

"Doctors described the liver I’d been given as ‘pristine’, but my body didn’t want it. I really struggled mentally, as I had gone from feeling better and having hope to being back at square one.

"Things were really difficult by the time I was listed for my second transplant, and my family was told that I didn’t have long if a suitable match wasn’t found. Thankfully I was given a second chance."

Ms Reid urged others to sign up as organ donors.

She said: “I owe my life to my donors and their families and think about them every day. With my second transplant, I felt guilt at first, but now their gift is now part of me. I regard that person as my guardian angel and will never stop being grateful.”

Minister for Public Health, Aileen Campbell said: “We must always be mindful that most organ and tissue donation can only occur as a result of tragic circumstances and I’d like to thank every donor and their family who has made the selfless decision to donate their organs or tissue and enabled others to live and transform their lives."